PRO FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL; Injuries to Best and Brightest Worry Giants

By MIKE FREEMAN,

Published: September 30, 1994

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Sept. 29—
There is some concern within the Giant organization about the fitness of two of the team's most talented and respected players, the Pro Bowl running back Rodney Hampton and the Pro Bowl linebacker Michael Brooks.

And although the concerns don't involve season-ending injuries or anything too serious it seems that for at least the next several weeks -- maybe longer -- both players will have to play games in great discomfort and pain that could limit their effectiveness in the near future.

For Hampton, it is a bruised kidney and a severely bruised back that will keep him out of the New Orleans game this week and, some in the organization say, could make him a question mark against Minnesota the following week. For Brooks, it is a sprained foot, the same one he injured last season and kept him out three games. He hurt the foot again in practice on Wednesday, and although he will play this week he will do so with some serious discomfort.

Giants officials also think that Brooks, who is one of the toughest players on the team, might have to play in pain for the remainder of the season. Recently, he has been taking it a little easier in practice and resting the foot as much as possible. There have also been extensive treatment sessions.

"It'll probably be killing me the rest of the year," he said. "It hasn't healed as quickly as I want it to but hopefully I'll be O.K. It took a turn for the worse recently, but there is no way I'm going to miss time. I'll just have to play through it. Pain is a part of football."

The Giants, however, aren't as concerned about Brooks as they are about Hampton, since Hampton's injury is more serious. But the team's leading rusher and the only back in the history of the organization to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons says he will "definitely, no question" play against the Vikings.

Indeed, chances are Hampton will be ready for that Monday night game but what some close to the situation are saying is that he is in no way a lock for it. Furthermore, even if he does play, they said, it may take a few more weeks after that until he gets back to his Pro Bowl form. Hampton does have much more increased flexibility (he couldn't even bend down from the waist soon after the injury), but he is still unable to cut hard and run naturally.

After watching him take a few snaps on Wednesday the Giants came away thinking it might take longer than originally thought for Hampton to make a comeback. Today, Hampton suited up but didn't participate in contact drills.

"I'll come back whenever I can make cuts and everything," said Hampton, who still has difficulty twisting his back. "The big thing is I haven't been hit in the back yet. That will be the true test."

The Giants don't want to risk pushing Hampton back too soon and over the next few weeks they will watch him closely to make sure he is near 100 percent before putting him back in the mix.

Meanwhile, the Giants are in a truly precarious position as they are extremely thin in the running back spot. Once again, the Giants will rely on the heart and drive of David Meggett, who is thus far the team's most valuable player. New York will probably do the same thing against the Saints that they did two weeks ago versus Washington: run Meggett until he drops. Or breaks down.

That's the danger. Meggett takes a licking and keeps on ticking, but even concrete wears down after the rain constantly beats on it. As tough as Meggett is, he simply can't take that kind of pounding week in and week out. And the Giants certainly aren't ready to put the running game into the hands of their third-round draft pick, Gary Downs. That's why the Giants are sweating a little more than usual about Hampton's status. They certainly don't want to play the Vikings and that incredible defense without their bread-and-butter back.

The offensive coordinator, George Henshaw, was asked if durability was still a question with Meggett, despite his career-high 26 carries against the Redskins? "It's still a question," he said. "Remember, we've only played three games. The question is, how long can he last?"

And how long can the Giants remain undefeated without Hampton? EXTRA POINTS

DAVID MEGGETT was named the conference's offensive player of the month, making him the fourth Giants player to be named a player of the month on offense or defense since the award began in 1984. The other Giants were PHIL SIMMS (1986), LAWRENCE TAYLOR (1986 and 1989), and linebacker JESSIE ARMSTEAD, who was the special teams player of the month in November of last year. When Meggett returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Philadelphia, it tied BOBBY MITCHELL's league record, making it six straight seasons Meggett has returned a kick for a touchdown. Meggett is the team's leading rusher with 157 yards on 43 carries. He is tied for second on the team with 7 catches for 70 yards.

Photo: Rodney Hampton, out with injuries for Sunday's game, limbering up. (Norman Y. Lono for The New York Times)